Diocese of Greensburg to televise Christmas Masses

The Diocese of Greensburg will televise Christmas Masses this season in addition to holding in-person services, to engage parishioners at home amid concern over a strong resurgence in coronavirus cases throughout the region.

“The Diocese and its parishes have consistently had thousands of faithful viewers watch our streaming Masses from their computers, tablets and smart televisions for many months now,” said Monsignor Larry Kulick.

The diocese streams Masses on its website, Facebook page and YouTube channel, and Christmas Vigil and Christmas Day Masses will premiere on those outlets as well, but it will also be broadcast on the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel.

A Christmas Vigil at Greensburg’s Blessed Sacrament Cathedral will be broadcast at 2 p.m., Dec. 24. Kulick will celebrate a 10 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day.

The diocese began reopening for in-person services on June 1. Kulick said 50 of 78 parishes in the diocese now stream Mass services, “however there are still many in our community who cannot access the internet … I hope these televised Masses will provide an opportunity for us to engage individuals and families celebrating the birth of Jesus with them in their own homes.”

In the past 30 days, Westmoreland County has seen its worst surge in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.

The county added 187 cases Sunday and 167 on Monday. Of those, were confirmed through PCR tests.

On Monday, Westmoreland posted the sixth highest number of new cases in the state.

Since the pandemic began in March, the county has recorded a total of 6,266 cases — confirmed and probable — of coronavirus.

Diocese spokesman Paul Paterra said in most cases, Mass attendance has fluctuated between 40 and 60% of normal levels.

Kulick said the diocese is working to be proactive and offer parishioners a variety of options.

“It’s really to give the widest possible participation of the faithful in the diocese,” he said. “I think the most important thing is, we want to remain connected to the people. That connectivity is very important during the holiday season, when people especially want to be connected. We want the church to able to be there for them, in whatever way is possible and safe.”